Research debunks PolyMet claim of zero discharges, says letter writer

Here is the text of the letter linked above.
- True

I’m writing concerning PolyMet’s claim it will have zero water discharge at its proposed copper sulfide mine near Hoyt Lakes (“Environmental groups, PolyMet to discuss mine,” Feb. 4).

I don’t think PolyMet expects Iron Rangers to believe this. After all, Minntac also claims zero water discharge, yet 4 million gallons a day of “seepage” enters the watershed of the Dark River and Sandy River.

Research does not support PolyMet’s claim. David Blowes, a Canadian scientist who has studied more than 10,000 sulfide mines in Canada over the past 20 years, concluded that all sulfide mines have contaminated groundwater to a greater or lesser extent, and that there are no “best methods” available. In an Earthworks study released in December 2006, researchers reported that acid-generating sulfide mines must be treated “in perpetuity”—meaning basically forever.

PolyMet also claimed its mining will have “no air emissions,” yet the Environmental Scoping Document lists 59 air pollutants. Among these is 162,000 tons of carbon dioxide, which will contribute to global warming.

PolyMet just released hundreds of pages of project description documents and seems to be using this gap in analysis time to convince investors that its mining operations would be environmentally safe.

I believe investments should be made in a sustainable future. We could dig ourselves out of existence and still not have enough minerals to serve the world’s population. We need to preserve our most valuable resources for children’s sake — clean water, clean air and biodiversity.

Elanne Palcich

Chisholm